(A) Services may be discontinued at the request of the consumer, provided the consumer pays all current balances. When services are discontinued and all bills paid, the deposit will be refunded in accordance with this chapter.
(B) Services may also be discontinued by HRW to any customer whose account remains delinquent for more than ten days. The deposit will be applied by HRW toward settlement of the account. Any balance will be refunded to the consumer; but if the deposit is not sufficient to cover the bill, HRW may proceed to collect the balance in the usual way provided by law for the collection of debts.
(C) Property owners may have a service discontinued for rental property in the event that the rental unit is vacant for a period not to exceed 12 months. If the rental property is still vacant after 12 months from the original suspension date, the property owner will begin to receive minimum bills for that location to include the account setup of $15.
(D) Service discontinued for non-payment of bills will be restored, at the request of the consumer, only after bills are paid in full, and a service charge of $40 paid for each meter reconnected except as set forth hereafter. The consumer being reconnected must also make the required deposit. The consumer may elect to pay an additional service fee of $50 to expedite the reconnection process. The payment of this fee will guarantee the reestablishment of water service to the consumer on the same day the account is paid in full.
(E) After a connection has been discontinued for a period of 12 consecutive months HRW may remove the meter base, meter, curb stop valve, meter box and service line for use elsewhere or for storage.
(F) At any time after a connection has been discontinued an additional service charge equal to the then current tap-on-fee shall be paid as a reconnection fee. Also the consumer must make the required deposit.
(G) HRW reserves the right to discontinue its service without notice for the following additional reasons:
(1) To prevent fraud or abuse;
(2) Consumers willful disregard for HRW's rules and ordinances;
(3) Emergency repairs;
(4) Insufficiency of supply due to circumstances beyond HRW's control;
(5) Legal processes;
(6) Direction of public authorities; and/or
(7) Strike, riot, fire, flood, accident, or any unavoidable cause.
(H) HRW may, in addition to prosecution by law, permanently refuse service to any consumer who tampers with a meter or other measuring device.
(I) HRW gave a privilege for early connection to the water system to every property owner or resident as the water mains were installed. From time to time, HRW may give privileges for connections at reduced amounts in order to encourage additional hookups to increase revenue. Any consumer who takes advantage of a reduced connection will be responsible for paying at least the minimum monthly water bill whether or not water is actually used until such time as the reduced connection fee charged plus all monthly water bills charged equal the then current charge for tap-on connection. The consumer shall remain liable for at least the minimum monthly bill thereafter until he has notified HRW in accordance with other provisions of this chapter that he desires to stop his service.
(Ord. passed 6-30-2015; Ord. passed 7-16-2018; Ord. passed 6-15-2020; Ord. passed 11-16-2020)